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Shrimpgate 2011

Welcome back, my little rattlers! This week, we finally see the 16 cheftestants in the kitchen together, and they're ready to compete.

First, we get a little glimpse into their sequestered homelife. Hugh gives Chris a lot of crap in his blog about his all-white outfit, so I'll let it go, but y'know by even mentioning it, I'm not letting it go.

Is it just me or does the house vibe just feel different this year? The chefs' maturity just emanates from them. These are serious, experienced chefs, and I'm not getting a feeling from any of them that any feel intimidated by another, something some chefs have expressed in the past.

Padma presents the Quickfire Challenge alongside San Antonio chef Johnny Hernandez. The chefs are presented with their ingredient -- rattlesnake! Love how much fun the Magical Elves had with tricking the chefs into thinking they had to kill their own protein! The thought of seeing them do this actually made me vomit in my mouth a little. Fortunately, it was all a prank! They're such pranksters! They're like George Clooney on a movie set! Anyway, the chefs pretty much had to just make the best rattlesnake dish they could think of. As we've learned in other challenges in past sessions, snake can be pretty rubbery, and Chef Hernandez reiterates how "delicate" the meat is.

It's nice to see how much these chefs try to help each other (for now), like Sarah telling Richie he should cut his pieces smaller into filets so it's easier to cook. Honestly, when Richie was shaking whatever spice he was shaking (I'm sure I should know what that kitchen gadget is, but I don't), I thought he was trying to figure out a way to incorporate an aural element to his dish, where the dish would not only taste like rattlesnake, but it would sound like it too! He does work with Hamaru Cantu after all -- anything's possible. I mean, Dakota admitted to cooking barracuda! P.S. Chris and Richie have the cutest bromance ever. Richie obviously respects his chef, and the feeling is mutual.A lot of the chefs fried their snake -- and the first thing that came to mind when hearing their plans was when Padma said a toe would taste good fried. Well, apparently not all toes because some were more successful with this method than others. Paul Qui's BBQ snake was unsuccessful, but it did kind of look awesome when he was slicing it. I was surprised Chef Hernandez didn't care for it. Chris' dish sounded amazing to me because he included two things I love: cumin and bacon. Beverly's concern about her rattlesnake being rubbery was premature -- it was a hit! Unlesss, like she said, it was rubbery, but it worked anyway. Sarah's simple dish was well-received too, but ultimately Dakokta wins wit her beer-battered snake! Guess cooking that barracuda was good practice! And so, Dakota was the first chef to gain immunity this season. Congrats, Dakota!

And onto our first real Elimination Challenge -- in comes Blanca Flores! No, Edward, she's not a Mexican rock star. Although your assumption cracked me up. Edward, really coming through with the comedic moments this season so far. He also cracked me up -- and by that I mean horrified me -- when he asked Blanca if she liked boys. It was obviously an attempt at bonding with a young girl, but, well, it caused an awkward silence. Blanca is actually just a 15-year-old celebrating her Quincinera. The chefs are broken up into two groups, and have to create Quincinera cuisine -- including a cake! -- for Blanca, her parents, and her 200 guests.

The two teams go shopping, aaaaand that's where the issues start -- at least for the Pink Team. Well, first can we just talk about Beverly at the butcher counter? If I were at the butcher and Beverly made them stop everything to help her because her dish was supposedly the most important, I would not have been a happy camper. Hopefully they're more understanding in Texas.The biggest issue, however, was the Pink Team's purchase of pre-cooked shrimp. Everyone blamed the purchasing of the cooked shrimp on Keith, and while ultimately it was his decision, it's not like he didn't ask for everyone's buy-in at the store. Someone could have and should have spoken up, but they didn't. And Keith got blamed for it not only in the kitchen, causing weird tension between he and the rest of his teammates, but at Judges' Table. Now, that's not why he ultimately went home, but it was a bummer. Perhaps it was a bit premature of me to commend these chefs on their camaraderie.

There was mad tension in the Pink Team's kitchen after Shrimpgate, but both teams completed all their dishes. Now on to the party!

Blanca comes out in her beautiful red and white dress, and I clutched my heart. How adorable is she? And, man, is she a good judge! Her culinary comments were spot-on. What an articulate young lady. The judges dressed up for the occasion, with Hugh looking particularly Southern in his gingham shirt and white blazer. I dug it.

After a lot of comments from the judges and the diners about what tasted authentic (Are enchiladas only made with corn tortillas?), what tasted like nothing, etc. the cakes come out. Heather's tres leches is a leaning tower, but might have tasted OK, while Dakota's was so colorful I couldn't tell if it was awful or brilliant. My Top Chef: Just Desserts viewer mind tells me the colors were kind of horrible and she used way too much frosting, so the tres leches cake seemingly came out on top. What some might say was the most interesting dish based on protein alone, Chuy's goat dish, received praise. Whenever I hear about cooked goat now i think of Harold's Massamam Braised Goat at Kin Shop, the first and only goat dish I've ever eaten. It's critically acclaimed, so you should definitely try it!In the end, the Green Team wound up in front of the judges. But who would go home? Keith? Lindsay? Sarah? Ty-Lor?

Well, when the judges started asking questions, all hell kind of broke loose. Keith thought Sarah threw him under gut bus, and I kind of agree a little. Tom seemed to have an inkling as to what happened though, which I inferred from his question about who was present when the shrimp was purchased. Althoughh Keith was called out for the shrimp, Sarah also made a point to say that she's never had an enchilada with a flour tortilla. Before Hugh brought it up during the challenge, I didn't even know that distinction, so i obviously starting Googling the difference between flour and corn tortillas and their use in burritos versus enchiladas. And you know what? I found arguments for both sides. So, although maybe enchiladas don't traditionally have flour tortillas, I think if they could have been made delicious, it could have been overlooked. The fact that the chefs didn't even make their own tortillas did not help. I can't believe they did that honestly. Anyone knows that although store-bought tortillas can taste good, especially when grilled (I don't make my own tortillas), but if they're sitting in a buffet, get cold,they get kinda stale and gross. But, alas, Sarah and Lindsay were safe.

Ty-Lor's fritter was a miss, but not bad enough to send him home. So, Keith went home. I was pretty bummed -- what a gentle giant he was, but he represented himself well, and I know he'll be OK.

Did you agree with the judges' decision? Let me know! Until then, Have a Nosh!